Limburg boy, 11, commits suicide; School's warnings ignored: report

Paramedics and a police officer at the scene of an incident (Stock photo: Politie). Paramedics and a police officer at the scene of an incident (Stock photo: Politie)

An 11-year-old boy from Steyl committed suicide on Sunday. Primary school Passepartout in Tegelen reported concerns for the boy's wellbeing and living environment with the municipality of Venlo several times, but the municipality is unable to say what was done about these reports, Brabants Dagblad reports.

The boy attended primary school Cocon last year, which now forms part of primary school Passepartout. He was found dead in his parental home on Gieterijstraat in Steyl on Sunday. The police concluded that the boy committed suicide.

According to Hans Soentjens, chairman of Kerobei educational foundation, both schools submitted various reports about their concerns for the boy to the municipality. Soentjens would not tell Brabants Dagblad exactly what those concerns were. "But the concerns were serious. A concern report is a major step. In this, we as school took our responsibility", he said to the newspaper.

On Monday the municipality of Venlo, which covers Tegelen and Steyl, was unable to respond to questions about what was done with the submitted reports. "This is because it is a complicated matter with many involved", a spokesperson said to the newspaper. It is not clear whether any other institutions were involved with the boy and his family.

Municipalities took over responsibility for youth care in the Netherlands on January 1st, 2015.